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Bible verses about depression
Passages that speak to despair, low spirits, darkness of soul, and the way Scripture addresses emotional suffering without dismissing it.
What does the Bible say about depression?
The word depression does not appear in the King James Bible, but the experience it names is everywhere. David cries out from the depths. Elijah asks to die. Jeremiah weeps. The psalmists describe a soul cast down within them. The Bible does not treat emotional darkness as a failure of faith.
These verses are for readers who are struggling, who feel alone, or who need to hear that Scripture makes room for pain. They do not offer easy solutions but they do offer companionship and real hope.
Key passages
"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
The Lord is near to them that are of a broken heart. Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master.
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."
Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope in God. The psalmist looked to the Lord as his chief good, and set his heart upon him accordingly; casting anchor thus at first, he rides out the storm.
"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds. Praising God is work that is its own wages. It is comely; it becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in covenant with God.
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed. God speaks with tenderness; Fear you not, for I am with you: not only within call, but present with you. Art you weak?
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden. It becomes children to be grateful.
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,"
Nothing can separate you from the love of God. All things whatever, in heaven and earth, are not so great a display of God's free love, as the gift of his coequal Son to be the atonement on the cross for the sin of man; and all the rest follows upon union with him, and interest in him.
Main takeaways
- The Bible gives honest language for despair without calling it unbelief.
- God is described as near to the brokenhearted and to those crushed in spirit.
- Hope in Scripture is not a feeling but a promise held out to people in darkness.
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Related places
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Reading paths
A path for grief, exhaustion, lament, stubborn faith, and the refusal to call pain unreal.
Further guides
A Bible guide to grief and loss
A longer guide to mourning, lament, bereavement, and the way Scripture teaches people to grieve without surrendering hope.
How to read Psalms for comfort and strength
A guide to using the Psalms well when readers need language for prayer, fear, exhaustion, gratitude, grief, and renewed courage.